You might even know what TDS is or how to make the perfect rosetta, but did you know these interesting facts about coffee?

Coffee is not only a complex drink, but also a product that is part of history, which has shaped customs and created traditions. Here are 10 interesting facts about coffee that you'll probably want to share in your next coffee conversation.

1. The history of coffee began in Ethiopia

Although not certain, legend has it that centuries ago, in Ethiopia, a shepherd named Kaldi noticed that his goats became more energetic after eating some small, red berries. From Kaldi tasting those berries to roasting the beans to extract a drink, a long time passed, but coffee spread around the world and conquered everywhere, becoming one of the most consumed drinks in the world.

2. Coffee has already been banned

Today coffee is so normalized that it's hard to imagine that for centuries this drink was viewed with suspicion, fear and even as a threat to political power.

In the 16th century in Mecca, "coffee houses" were already a place where people gathered to talk, listen to music, read and discuss ideas. In 1511, the local governor banned the consumption of coffee in order to prevent these gatherings that encouraged free thought, social criticism and philosophical and political debates.

Since then, there are records all over the world of coffee being banned, albeit for a short time, because it was a threat to political power or because it was thought to be dangerous to public health, and it was even called the "devil's drink" when it arrived in Italy, because it kept people awake and distracted the faithful from prayer.

3. The most expensive coffee in the world

For a long time, when people talked about "the most expensive coffee in the world", the name most often mentioned was Kopi Luwak. But things have changed, and rightly so. Between myths, marketing and ethical concerns, it's worth taking a closer look at what really makes a coffee worth every euro (or not).

Kopi Kuwak is produced in Indonesia from grains that have passed through the digestive system of civets. These animals not only have a natural tendency to pick out the ripest berries, but their digestion of the grains alters their profile. However, growing demand led to the industrialization of the process, with civets kept in captivity which, ironically, lowered the quality of the beans. Today, this coffee is no longer considered high quality and its price no longer reflects excellence, but marketing.

Today, the most expensive coffees in the world come from special auctions and are, for example, Panama Geisha, microlot harvests from Yemen and Cup of Excellence award-winning coffees.

4. The origin of cappuccino is linked to monks

The name "cappuccino" comes from the Italian Capuchin monks, whose robes had a reddish-brown color similar to café au lait. The drink, as we know it today, was born in Italy, mixing espresso with steamed milk and foam.

5. Espresso or Express?

The correct way to describe the coffee drink extracted in a pressurized machine is espresso. This name, contrary to myth, doesn't come from being a fast extraction (espresso), but from being prepared under pressure. Espresso is extracted with water pressure on the coffee of around 9 bar, creating a flavor, body and texture profile that is not possible with gravity extraction.

6. The world's largest coffee producer

Brazil is the largest coffee producer in the world, producing around a third of the coffee consumed worldwide. It is a country with large production areas, such as Minas Gerais and São Paulo, which are veritable paradises for growing this bean.

7. Coffee used as currency

In Africa, between the 15th and 17th centuries, coffee was used as currency, both as beans and in energy preparations. In Brazil in the 19th century, at the height of coffee production, agricultural workers were often paid in bags of coffee, which they then used to barter.

With the emergence of fiat currencies and the industrialization of trade, coffee began to be valued in legal tender, but lost its direct role as an instrument of exchange.

8. The health benefits

As well as waking you up, coffee is associated with various benefits, such as improving concentration, protecting the liver and even reducing the risk of some neurodegenerative diseases. Of course, consuming quality coffee and in moderation!

9. The first espresso machine

Invented by Luigi Bezzera, this machine revolutionized the world of coffee by being able to extract the drink quickly and with superior quality. It was the beginning of the era of espresso and modern coffee shops.

10. The coffee flavor wheel is different from wine

Although they are two drinks, the sensory notes of coffee and wine are different. Although both depend on terroir, varieties, fermentations and sensory processes, the sensory notes of coffee have their own nuances and approaches.

The variations in flavors in wine occur mainly in the vineyard and cellar, while in coffee it depends on the whole process: from the cherry on the plant to the extraction method in the cup. Each step - harvesting, fermentation, drying, roasting, grinding and extraction - transforms the sensory profile. Thus coffee flavor wheel is designed to help describe the variable results of many processes, while that of wine is more static, linked to the typicality of the grape variety and terroir.

Did you already know these interesting facts about coffee? Share with us in the comments what other curiosities you know or myths you'd like to see debunked.